A flexible, user-friendly PHP CMS for creating custom digital experiences on the web and beyond.
Craft CMS is a flexible, user-friendly content management system built with PHP that enables developers to create custom digital experiences for the web and beyond. It solves the problem of rigid, one-size-fits-all CMS platforms by providing a clean-slate approach to content modeling that adapts to specific project needs rather than forcing content into predefined structures.
Web developers and agencies building custom websites, ecommerce platforms, and headless applications who need a flexible CMS that balances developer control with content editor usability.
Developers choose Craft CMS for its clean-slate content modeling approach, powerful templating with Twig, auto-generated GraphQL API for headless setups, and extensive plugin ecosystem—all while maintaining an intuitive interface for content editors that reduces training overhead.
Build bespoke content experiences with Craft.
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Clean-slate approach allows developers to define custom content structures without predefined assumptions, as highlighted in the README's philosophy, enabling tailored solutions for complex projects.
User-friendly interface for content editors reduces training overhead and improves content management efficiency, making it ideal for client-facing projects.
Fast and flexible template engine based on Twig enables developers to build custom front-end experiences with ease, leveraging a familiar syntax for dynamic content.
Built-in GraphQL API supports headless applications, as noted in the README, allowing seamless integration with modern front-end frameworks without additional API development.
Requires server setup, PHP environment, and database management (MySQL/PostgreSQL), adding overhead compared to cloud-based CMS platforms with managed hosting.
Tied to PHP and specific databases, limiting flexibility for teams using other technology stacks or preferring JavaScript-based solutions.
While the core is open-source, advanced features like ecommerce and premium plugins involve licensing fees, increasing total cost of ownership for enterprise projects.
CraftCMS is an open-source alternative to the following products:
An open-source content management system written in PHP, used for building websites, applications, and digital experiences.
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database, used for creating websites and blogs.